RCD protection on multiple 3 phase machines

[Dave 85]

Hi guys

Just wanted to pick your brains on the following...
I've been doing some work in a Jaguar dealership and they've had a health and safety guy come around and recommend that all existing socket circuits and 3 phase car ramps should be given RCD protection. I have been asked to quote for said work.

Now we are looking at 10 3phase ramps and around 12 socket circuits fed from 4 different DB's (old brown square D ones) which are all 20 odd meters apart.

Ideally I wanted to replace at least 3 of the DB's so I could put RCBO protection on all socket circuits but I'm not sure what to do with the ramps....as far as I'm aware you cant get 3phase RCBO's??? and having an RCD main switch on each board seems like a very poor option.

One though is to replace the DB's, keep MCB's on the ramps but then install remote RCD isolators for each ramp. Obviously I'm trying to make this cost effective.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Spoon]

Sockets I can understand RCD’s. Surely the ramps are fixed, it just doesn’t make any sense.

Im not saying RCD's are a bad thing here. Even with the sockets, the factory workers should only be using them for tools that they have been trained to use.. Just my opinion..

 

[Spoon]

id also put to them that all cost incurred due to nuisance tripping of RCD's will be passed to them as they are stipulating measures beyond BS7671..... if they agree to anything you put forward ask for it in writing too as an amendment to their original wishes.

That will make them think twice..

 

[Darkwood]

Next thing these quangos will insist on will be grounding on the Van De Graaf generators in the school science labs so no-one gets a shock!!!

 

[chrish_1977]

Is everyone missing the obvious here, run the supply in armoured to each ramp, and to previous posters, no the ramps don't drop hen the power is disconnected there are latching mechanism in place for just that.

 

[Knobhead]

Im not saying RCD's are a bad thing here. Even with the sockets, the factory workers should only be using them for tools that they have been trained to use.. Just my opinion..

I wasn't having a go at you, just the whole idea of RCD everything.

 

[Knobhead]

Next thing these quangos will insist on will be grounding on the Van De Graaf generators in the school science labs so no-one gets a shock!!!

No need for that. The schools can't use them now.

 

[Spoon]

I wasn't having a go at you, just the whole idea of RCD everything.

Sorry Tony. I know you wasnt having a go at me.... Its just the way I word things, it always comes across as aggressive... and im a little ----- cat really...

 

[Darkwood]

Is everyone missing the obvious here, run the supply in armoured to each ramp, and to previous posters, no the ramps don't drop hen the power is disconnected there are latching mechanism in place for just that.

What about 4 post portable rigs with trailer plug supply.... this is a case where i would have the supply covered just been to a garage and the S/Y extension lead 3ph/400v (Yes i know i took them out of service immediately) went across the workshop and was both damaged and had lost its earth.... the OP hasn't expressed the set-up but in general for fixed set-ups i see no need for rcd cover also most newer ramps have selv control power and only have LV to motor which is usually mechanically protected ... Also to note here is only the supply to the ramp is covered by the BS7671 the ramp itself isn't.

 

[Darkwood]

No need for that. The schools can't use them now.

Same set of toolheads that banned conkers i bet!

 

[telectrix]

and still recommend plug-in socket covers where children are.

 

[shagbite]

knock-a-door run & conkers; have you been reminiscing about your schooldays DW?

 

[telectrix]

and mustn't forget the full face protection in cookery class when mixing things like tea and water.

 

[Tiny Spark]

I dont see the point to be honest.
We recently had a similar issue but we said the staff who would be working with the equipment in question would be part of the engineering dept and therefore did not need the rcd protection.

However where we have had to rcd protect the 3 phase gear for whatever reason we have brought 3 phase socket outlets with built in rcbo's.

 

[telectrix]

bloody H&S madness. they'll be wanting scaffold to climb on the bog next.

 

[Spoon]

I just want to be a fly on the wall and see the expression on the H&S persons face when Dave goes along with darkwoods post 15, and states that he will add the RCD's when he receives a written demand for them from H&S and "all cost incurred due to nuisance tripping of RCD's will be passed to them as they are stipulating measures beyond BS7671"